Page 80 of A Conduit of Light
Karus’sgaze flickered up to the massive painting, done in brilliant oils.ShestudiedBaronHeimlenas a young man.Nowhe was known as theSaviorofHyrithiaand the most powerful man on the isle.
Sheknew history books wouldn’t forget the first, but she wondered if that last title was still true.AsBaronHeimlen’smagic faded,Revich’sgrew stronger, and his ease into full baronhood looked easy.
TheoldBaronmust have been slightly younger than herself when he came to theFortressand stood for this portrait.Whathad he been like then?ExuberantlikeRevichor did he always keep a stern demeanor, taking everything so seriously?Theman who had saved the largest city inArcaynenfrom theBlackFeverwould likely have to be serious to accomplish such feats.
Hiseyes were grayer in the painting and his facial hair was trimmed down to a short blonde beard at his chin.Hisyellow hair was longer than it was now, and it hung at his shoulders in subtle waves.Hisfeatures were so similar to the ones he carried in his current age, and she wondered if there was a giant painting ofRevichsomewhere in theFortressshe had not happened upon yet that would forever capturehisyouth.
Shegrinned, thinking of all the channelers who would come to see it whenRevichwas old and remark at how young he had been, yet another example of the circle of events they lived inside.
Therewas something a bit off withBaronHeimlen’sportrait, though.Asshe studied it, she could not quite put her finger on what had caught her interest.Shemoved closer, tilting her head back and squinting her eyes.
Itwasn’t his face or his hair.Ithad nothing to do with the colorings and lines that were very different than the man behind the door.No, there was something tugging at her mind, some obvious revelation that she could not pull to the surface.
Shestudied the details harder.Theclothes he was painted in were a little old fashioned for aBaron, but still recognizable as such.Forthe portrait, he had worn the customary dress shirt in a light cream color under a pine wool vest with five golden buttons fastened down the center.Thecut of the vest was what gave away the time period as it was looser than the vestsRevichwore now.Hispants had been a similar shade, finely pressed and ending at his black boots, similar to the ones she had seen him wear in the present.
TheyoungBaronHeimlenstood tall and posed with one pale hand cuffed on the front opening of his vest and the other resting against the large oak tree he leaned against.
Andthere it was.
Theanomaly.
Karuslooked away, her mind suddenly racing, attempting to make sense of something she had never thought much of before.
“Karus, my dear,BaronHeimlenwill see you.Please, come in.”
Sylva’ssoft, worn voice interrupted her thoughts and almost by instinct,Karusfound her feet walking through the door ofBaronHeimlen’schambers.
Therooms were brighter thanKaruswould have imagined, considering how dark theFortressoften was.Asingle window spilled cheery sunlight into the dark stone space, illuminating the rooms in contrast to theBaronshe knew and the presence he emulated.
Therewere two rooms here that she could see.Thefirst that she andSylvastood inside was a sitting room of sorts with a small wooden table to the side of a green velvet settee.Amassive sideboard stood against one wall that held all of the dining wear one could ever need.Karusrealized she had never seenBaronHeimleneat in the dining hall.
Inconfusion, she attempted to look elsewhere in the room, but her head was swimming, grasping at memories of her time spent with theBaron.
“Karus,Sylvahas told me you wish to speak alone.”Hestood before her then, dressed in his usual black, hands in his pockets, and nodded toSylva, giving her a smileKarushad never seen before. “Thankyou, darling.”
Seeingthat it was a dismissal,Sylvanodded and grinned warmly atKarus, placing a hand on her arm before turning to leave, shutting the door and likely the painting behind her.
Karus’sheart was a rapid mess.Allthoughts of what she planned to say about fighting theBlightwere lost since examining the painting.Heronly focus now was recalling memories of each moment she had spent with him.
“Wouldyou like some tea, my dear?Youlook shaken.Whatis it you wish to tell me?”
Hemoved past the door behind him, heading to the sideboard to pour steaming water into two delicate teacups.Hismovement revealed that the other room was a bed chamber, butKarusquickly glanced away to watch him.
Hemotioned for her to sit, placing a steaming cup of black tea before her, setting cream and sugar down on the table as well before exhaling loudly as he sat across from where she stood.
Shesat, her eyes darting anywhere and everywhere at once, determined as she was to not let them rest on his hands.
No, she was sure of it.Shehad never before seen him without his black leather gloves.
That’swhat had been so unusual, seeing the light skin ofBaronHeimlen’shands.Therewas something so strange about it, yet simple enough that she had never wondered why he wore gloves in every setting.Heeven wore them now as she joined him for tea in his rooms, and though gloves were of course not unheard of on the isle, wearing them indoors, especially at a mealtime, was indeed strange.Whydid he never take them off?Thelonger she breathed, the more her stomach twisted, nausea overtaking her senses.
Shefinally let her gaze settle across the table.Hebrought a gloved hand to his cup, bringing it up to his lips to sip the steaming tea.
“Come, now,Karus, what is it that is bothering you?DidBaronRevichtell you of our discovery this morning?”
“He—he did,Baron.”
“Didyou wish to discuss it?Imust admit,Iam not at all surprised to see you.Ifigured you’d charge in here, demanding we go to theBlightright away and attempt to produce all the sunlight we can.”
